Over time, seals or parts within your toilet, sinks, bath, or shower can erode or become faulty, resulting in leakage and higher water bills. The following plumbing fixtures are especially prone to leaks:

Toilets: Over time, the rubber flapper inside the toilet tank can wear out, causing water to leak constantly into the bowl. A leaking flapper can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. Over the course of the month, the cost of that wasted water adds up, which could be the reason why your water bill skyrocketed.

Faucets: Faucets have washers and gaskets that can wear out over time. If these wear out, water can drip from the faucet. In fact, one small leak that drips at a rate of one drop per second can waste 3,000+ gallons of water per year. Aside from the water wastage, this can even lead to mold.

Shower heads: Shower heads can start leaking for various reasons, from mineral deposits to worn washers and O-rings inside the shower head. Not only is the constant drip-drip annoying, it also wastes water. A shower head that leaks 10 drops per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year.

Hidden pipes: Signs of a water leak from plumbing pipes are water stains in ceilings or walls, hot spots on your flooring, signs of mold growth, low water pressure, and pools of water in a specific area on your lawn. One way to see if you have a hidden leak is to check your water meter while no one is using any plumbing fixtures. After 30 minutes, if you see that the dial on the meter is spinnning, it could indicate that you have a leak.